Mitch Daniels downplays 'endorsement' in $65M gift to Purdue

7:47 AM,
Feb. 19, 2013

Purdue University graduate students Shaylyn Wiarda, left, and Jenae Skelton measure wheat Monday at a campus greenhouse in West Lafayette. The College of Agriculture received an anonymous estate gift currently valued at $65 million.

Written by

Eric Weddle
eweddle@jconline.com

How did Purdue University land its largest individual donation in history, an estate currently valued at $65 million? The couple bestowing the estate to Purdue's College of Agriculture has have asked to remain anonymous, and those involved with sealing the deal are tight-lipped on details. However, Yet some details that surfaced Monday show a process that took years, frequent meetings and a new president with a unique vision.

Lisa Calvert, Purdue vice president for development, said the gift was finalized in the last few weeks before President Mitch Daniels announced it Saturday night ...